Police, fire departments each seek one promotion

Streetsboro -- The city's police and fire chiefs are each seeking a promotion in their department that they believe will make them run more smoothly.

Police Chief Roy Mosley III would like to see one of the sergeants promoted to lieutenant, which would mean a total of two lieutenants in the department, then one of the police officers would be promoted to sergeant.

The new lieutenant would be a patrol lieutenant to work with the patrol division and detective bureau, while the existing lieutenant would be in an administrative position.

Mosley said the promotions should cost the city about $6,200 more a year.

Fire Chief Robert Reinholz would like to see one of the fire lieutenants promoted to executive captain, which would be a new position. He said the promotion would cost the city about $6,000 more a year.

For the promotions to become a reality, City Council must authorize the additional money in the city's 2013 budget, which must be approved by March 31.

Mosley said the police department would still have 29 sworn officers if the proposed promotion occurred.

Mosley said the department currently has one lieutenant. He said no test would be needed for the promotions to occur.

"The last time the police department's organizational structure was truly examined and adjusted was about 13 years ago," he said, "and the police department and the community have evolved and grown in the last 13 years.

"The current structure has virtually the entire organization under the supervision and oversight of a single lieutenant position," he said. "As structured currently, the span of control is far too broad for one individual."

Reinholz said he believes the promotion is important to provide him help in running the department administratively.

"I am the only 40-hour administrator, and there are a lot of administrative duties," he said.

Reinholz said the fire captain would be the No. 2 man in the department.

"He would be in charge of the fire prevention bureau for 20 hours and spend the other 20 hours assisting with the operations of the department," he said.

Reinholz said when he is not on duty, the senior lieutenant of the shift is in charge. There are four lieutenants in the department, and all are eligible to take a promotion test.

"They can handle [being in charge], and I expect them to," he said. "It could continue the way it is now. But the real help I need is in running the department administratively. The main reason is to assist me in the daily operations of the department. I need somebody else who is here 40 hours a week like me."

Reinholz said if the executive captain position is approved, he does not expect another firefighter to be hired in his place.